I own The Free Man Cajun Cafe, however, I also own ClearSky24.com which is a wholesaler for Screen Printed Tee Shirts, embroidered shirts and hats etc. <div>LP affiliates including the LP have used ClearSky24.com in the past to purchase shirts. </div>
<div><br></div><div>We have always given them the lowest price, with the highest quality and turn around times. It is a very reliable company, which is important in this business. </div><div><br></div><div>I do not, and have not ever expected that the LP or any affiliate give us their business because I am a member or even because we "share like minded politics", only because we truly have low costs, with reliable service. </div>
<div><br></div><div>JJ</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Jun 30, 2012 at 2:08 PM, David E. Blau, Esq. <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:blau.liberty@gmail.com" target="_blank">blau.liberty@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div>As I reported to the previous LNC, I
have a potential conflict of interest in that I am Chairman of the
Massachusetts affiliate.<br>
<br>
I am also an attorney, and I am ethically bound to not offer legal
advice to non-clients. I am not the LNC's lawyer; legal questions
should be directed to our lawyer.<br>
<br>
<div>
<hr>
<br>
<b>David E. Blau, Esq.</b>
<br>
Chairman, Libertarian Association of Massachusetts.
<a href="mailto:chair@lpmass.org" target="_blank">chair@lpmass.org</a>
<br>
Region 5N Alternate, Libertarian National Committee.
<a href="mailto:David.Blau@lp.org" target="_blank">David.Blau@lp.org</a>
<br>
<a>www.lpmass.org</a> | <a>www.lp.org</a>
<br>
<a href="tel:617.396.4253" value="+16173964253" target="_blank">617.396.4253</a><br>
<br>
</div><div><div class="h5">
On 6/30/2012 2:22 PM, Geoffrey Neale wrote:<br>
</div></div></div>
<blockquote type="cite"><div><div class="h5">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is an ill-defined section of our
Policy Manual. The Bylaws do not specify conflicts of
interest at all. Neither does the Platform.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So why is it in the Policy Manual? The
authority for us to set rules that constrain the LNC is
contained in the Bylaws under Section 8.1:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none">“The National
Committee shall have control and management of all the
affairs, properties and funds of the Party consistent with
these Bylaws. The Libertarian National Committee shall
establish and oversee an organizational structure to implement
the purposes of the Party as stated in Article 3. The National
Committee shall adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of
its meetings and the carrying out of its duties and
responsibilities. The National Committee may delegate its
authority in any manner it deems necessary.”<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none">It is important
for us as a body to avoid the appearance of impropriety. When
it comes to conflict of interest, we are expected to act on
behalf of the best interests of the LP, and to not act in a
way that benefits us personally, or benefits the interests of
outside groups, organizations or business at the expense of LP
interests.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none">In order to
avoid the appearance of impropriety in this regard, I feel we
should each disclose any relationship that could be
questionable, even if the individual actions related to the
potential conflict of interest are not. In my opinion, this
means that if you are an officer or board member of an
affiliate party, or are an officer or a board member of
another organization with an ongoing relationship with the LP,
or are a vendor, or are married to someone with a similar
relationship, or receive income or benefit from any of the
above, the potential conflict of interest should be reported.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none">This does not
mean that you do have a conflict of interest. I know for a
fact that HQ purchases items from a company owned by an LNC
member, but that the purchases are at “arms-length”, and the
LNC has not, to date, discussed or voted on these specific
expenditures. These are made by staff, who have selected to
use this vendor through a competitive process where the member
played no part. For this member to vote on a budget line from
which the purchases are made does not represent a conflict of
interest, but it should be reported.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none">If you sit on
the board of Advocates for Self-Government, and staff
routinely purchases items from them, that does not represent a
conflict of interest, but you should report this as a
potential conflict of interest. If we vote directly to
purchase $10K of material, I suggest you recuse yourself from
debate and voting.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none">If we vote to
budget $300K for ballot access, and your state might receive
some of these funds, I do not believe you have a conflict of
interest. Now let’s suppose Bill Redpath proposes an
encumbrance of $20K for your state, and you’re the state
chair. This is a conflict of interest, and I would expect you
to recuse yourself from debate and voting on the motion.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none">In absence of
any real guidance in the Policy Manual, I’m setting out what I
think. In the absence of real guidance, I will have to rule
on instances like this. Please feel free to challenge me if
and when it comes up. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Remember that it’s all about managing the
appearance of impropriety.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Geoffrey Neale<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<br>
<fieldset></fieldset>
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